NOVEL NEXT Chapter 445: Another Monstrous Companion?
She had managed to acquire the Monster Shard of the Jungle Lord!
Lillian immediately straightened her back as she stared at the Shard with bulging eyes—she couldn't believe this! To think she had been lucky enough to acquire such a Shard...
'I had already received two of these in this singular Trial...'
The first time was when she saved Emilio and gained the abomination he had been struggling with as a Shard.
Albeit, she had decided to hand it over to the young man, since it wasn't really that special.
Even if it didn't have a head at the time, the Beetle managed to kill it on its own.
Why would she need something as weak as that in her arsenal? Even worse, taking up a Shard slot.
Excited to see the Jungle Lord's description, Lillian immediately willed it to appear.
==
[Monster Name: Jungle Lord]
[Titles: Guardian of the Jungle God's Temple, 4th Generation Jungle Lord]
[Monster Rank: Dire]
[Stage of Evolution: Gore]
[Monster Description: "Law of the Jungle"
The title of Jungle Lords is for those given the responsibility to guard the once young Jungle God's temple and subjects, acting as a guardian for its jungle.
However, such a role could only be received through defeating an already existing Jungle Lord through trial by combat and executing them.
This particular Jungle Lord happens to be the fourth generation and also the fastest in comparison to its predecessors, as it used its overwhelming speed to claim victory over the previous Jungle Lord.]
[Traits: Generational Accumulation, Highspeed, Blessing of Jungle God]
[Generational Accumulation: Every past Jungle Lord had a key ability that allowed them to rein in victory over their predecessor. Through the Jungle God's blessing, these abilities will be passed down for the next Jungle Lord to act as the new guardian.
1. Weapon Mastery - The First Generation Jungle Lord had a high understanding of battle through hand-held weapons.
2. Lord of Vines - The Second Generation Jungle Lord had immense control over the surrounding vines and a body that was coursing with plant-life.
3. Immortal Cycle - The Third Generation Jungle Lord had the ability to increase the time before its demise for a maximum of 5 minutes, which, during this duration, it needed to take over a suitable body to recover.]
[Highspeed: The Jungle Lord's speed is capable of increasing up to 2.5x its usual speed.]
[Blessing of Jungle God: The Jungle Lords are loved by the Jungle God; therefore, they too are loved by jungles.]
==
Lillian became wide-eyed at what she read, so wide in fact that it was even possible for her eyeballs to pop out.
And she was right to express such a reaction.
She knew that the Jungle Lord had a variety of abilities that helped it in battle, but to think it was of this degree...
How did she even win that battle?!
Lillian scratched the back of her head. She remembered that she had sensed the Predatory Aura of the Wendigo losing its effect on her...
'If I didn't have any of my Items, I would've definitely lost that battle, even if I used every possible means...'
She wasn't sure if it was because of the amount of text written, but the feeling of the Jungle Lord's strength was a bit daunting on her...
"Well anyway... I guess I could say I managed to solo and first try it at least..." Lillian chuckled nervously before moving towards the exit of the tent.
Shuffle...
After shuffling around and managing to crawl out the exit, Lillian immediately held a hand over her eyes—adjusting to the light.
And once she did, she lowered her hand before freezing in place.
The sky was now fully orange, contrasting with what it used to look like previously—light bluish.
How...
How long had she been asleep?
"Lillian!"
Looking back, Lillian found Viesta walking up to her from behind with a bundle of sticks in her arms.
It seems the woman was preparing to make a campfire...
"Oh, Viesta. Are you just about to make a campfire?"
"Hm? Oh! I was actually getting more fuel for the fire, actually. It had already been made. How was your 4 hour nap?"
"FOUR HOURS!?" Lillian yelled, baffled by such a large amount of time lost.
She had recalled her mind feeling extremely fatigued, more so than her body... Could it be the weight of controlling the large body of water she had conjured?
Lillian did suddenly turn it into a whirlpool as well, so that may also play a massive factor...
'I think it might've been my earring's fault as well...' Lillian muttered inside her head, pinching her earring with a look of realisation.
As Lillian continued to ponder, Viesta chuckled slightly, "Hahaha... I was really worried when you weren't responding back to me earlier. But now that I know you were just tired, that brings me peace of mind."
Viesta then looked at Lillian's body from top to bottom, checking to see if there were any issues in the way she stood.
Fortunately, there didn't seem to be any.
However.
"Does anywhere hurt or feel weird?"
It didn't hurt to ask.
Viesta watched as Lillian shook her head slowly and nodded in satisfaction. The two then walked beside each other as they made their way to the fire.
"I don't think you heard me say it, but you did brilliantly out there! I never knew you could move so fast..."
Hearing the compliment, Lillian gave an embarrassed chuckle as she rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly.
"It was nothing, really... Such a battle was needed for the Trial anyway, so we would've had to face it eventually..."
"Seriously? How do you know, Lillian?" Viesta raised an eyebrow, "Maybe you could've avoided fighting that boss as a whole."
Lillian gave a crooked smile, "Yeah... I'm sure you know that there was no way a monster as strong as that isn't related to this Trial's requirements."
"Pfft." Viesta laughed a bit.
Once reaching the campfire, Lillian looked around.
It was but a simple campfire with logs around it acting as seats. It was simple but comforting at the same time.
After replenishing the fire's wood supply, they watched Jon and Emilio return from behind the trees of the jungle and immediately made their way over to them.
"There won't be any monster entering this part of the jungle." Jon stated confidently, followed by an energetic nod from Emilio.
"And we mean that! Its like anything besides they little guys we saw in the trees avoid this place in the jungle. I guess... They were too scared of that guy?"
In unison, everyone glanced at the stone throne, which still held its rough shape, despite the harsh battle that had gone on around it.
They then looked back at each other.
Lillian folded her arms and gave a firm nod.
"It's an instinctual thing, after all. Considering that the Jungle Lord is the strongest monster inside the jungle and only comparable to the two other Lords, I think it's a good thing they avoided this place.
Emilio tilted his head slightly, "Jungle Lord? Is that what that thing was called? Damn... Cool name..." He then held his chin and fell into a momentary thought before stiffening.
He then frantically raised his hand and stuttered as he looked towards Lillian, "W-well, uhm, i-in my opinion of course!"
Lillian slowly raised an eyebrow at him as she tilted her head as well, wondering about the man's strange behaviour towards her.
He couldn't possibly still have feelings for her even after knowing she was taken, right?
Lillian held her chin for a moment as well, staring at the young man intently, who shivered and froze in place instantly.
After narrowing her eyes, she smiled and waved her hand dismissively in a casual manner, "Me too~... I think the name is cool. But anyway, we camping here for tonight, huh?"
She shot Jon a random glance, who instantly noticed and nodded in response.
"The day is almost coming to an end. It's best to rest for the night and let the dark pass, so we can be safer in the day tomorrow."
With such a logical response, Lillian couldn't help but nod strongly. Although such an issue wasn't as much of an issue for her, it was definitely for her group.
'Eh... With the Jungle Lord now as an ally, I think its possible...'
They still needed to find Captain Righthook, after all.
Lillian decided to suggest her plan to the group about journeying through the night, but was immediately met with rejection.
It wasn't about safety, tiredness, but in fact about worry for her well-being.
"You slept for four hours, Lady Arius, you can't be certain you're prepared for such a possibly long travel," Jon stated.
"My bodyguard is right! You're incredibly strong, Miss Lillian, but surely you must still be tired, right? I heard its not good for ladies such as yourself to lose on sleep, it harms your beauty." Emilio inquired.
Lillian, stunned by the response, watched as Viesta wrapped an arm around her shoulder and said:
"Look, Lillian, do you know of a man named Ryozan Eryndor?"
"The Strongest Mercenary Mage?" Lillian instantly responded with a raised eyebrow, watching as Viesta nodded at her in confirmation with a soft look.
"Even someone titled as the Strongest needs his sleep to keep that title. So ya need to rest up, Lillian." Viesta patted the girl's shoulder firmly.
"I see..."
Lillian looked away slightly, scratching the side of her cheek shyly as she finally gave in.
Emilio, seeing that Lillian had decided to agree with their request, placed his left hand on his waist and nodded exaggeratedly.
He then raised that hand into the air—
"Now that we had that out of the way..."
—And summoned what seemed to be a plastic bag filled with several white, soft treats inside.
"How about we have some marshmallows as celebration for Lillian's excellent battle?!"
Viesta, watching as the bag bounced up and down, shouted:
"What the—?! You had marshmallows the entire time but didn't tell any of us!?"
"H-huh? S-so, what!?" He hugged the plastic bag to his chest and shouted back, "You make it seemlike I hid a big secret from you all!"
"Marshmallows are a big deal! Especially for the outdoors! Quick, someone fetch me sticks!"
And just like that, everyone had begun to gather around the fire...